Opinions on Niacin Flush

[Shels]

Has anyone tried taking niacin for the purpose of releasing toxins before? I've been hearing a lot about it lately and I'm pretty curious what the raw community has to say about it. :heart:

[Shels]

...nobody?

[Aleesha Sattva]

never heard of it.

[DebB]

I've had a niacin flush, but it was by accident. I accidentally bought niacin that was not "flush free".

Honestly? I thought I was having a heart attack (and I *know* heart attacks since I've had two). I called my cardiologist's office and talked with his nurse. He had me describe my symptoms and he said, "If I didn't know better I'd say you're having a niacin flush". That saved me a trip to the E.R.

It was a very scary experience. I turned RED up my arms and my face and all blotchy on my torso, all the while my heart was racing. Now, perhaps I was having an extreme flush? I don't know because I never took them again.

I've never heard of taking niacin for the purpose or releasing toxins. But then again, it did scare the **** outa ME!

[GreenT]

Lol Deb, it sure is extreme isn't it :yes:

I take them every once in a while. I do not like the "flush" effect at all. When i bought them, i didn't realize that the "flush" was a serious flush. I can feel a super hot sensation go through my body and i look like i am fried from laying outside all day and its itchy. It lasts for a good 20 -m30 minutes or so. It works great for circulation and that is why i bought them but i am definitely going to buy the no flush ones next time.

[Mary Kay]

I'd never really heard o them for flushing toxins, but it's pretty common knowledge that it can help lower cholesterol. My dh's (vegetarian) was about 220 sev'l yrs ago and I got some. totally forgot about the flushing and gave him one ....He didn't know what was going on!!!! Came home to lay down...OMG, I felt terrible that I forgot about it. So later on, I thought I'd try one to see the effects. Yep, same as DebB....I've heard that you can start out low and build up to it over a pd of two or three weeks, but couldn't get dh to take more.

His cholesterol came down anyway. I still have some left over and since ducks need extra niacin, I've been putting it in their food every once in a while! don't know if they're flushing! But their dose is pretty low...

Mary Kay

[RawMark]

You can get "no-flush" niacin, though the flushing is supposed to help eliminate toxins through the skin, so that partly defeats the purpose. However, niacin in any form has detox properties, regardless of the flush. Buying inositol or niacinamide will give you niacin without the flushing effect. It is easier to overdose on these forms of niacin, though you'd have to be taking a fairly high amount, as far as I know.

I've heard that the more you need niacin the more you can handle without flushing. Niacin is indicated for mental health and has been used by orthomolecular practitioners to treat schizophrenia, OCD, and various forms of depression. It is particularly useful for addressing pyroluria.